According to Fox 28, The state Department of Health says a record number of Ohioans died from drug overdoses last year as it warned that surging painkiller abuse is once again worsening the crisis.
The state said Thursday that 2,482 people died from overdoses in 2014, an 18 percent increase over the previous year.
The Health Department says abuse of the painkiller fentanyl, which is often combined with heroin, is a significant contributor to the increase.
The agency says fentanyl was involved in 502 drug overdose deaths last year, up from only 84 the previous year.
Last year’s overdose deaths included a record 1,177 related to heroin, up from 986 in 2013. Fatal drug overdoses remain the leading cause of accidental death in Ohio, above car crashes, a trend that began in 2007.
ABC 6/FOX28 spoke with one Cleveland-area mom who says the report opens a wound for her family.
Cindy Hejl’s son died November 15, 2014, of an overdose. She says the toxicology report showed he had heroin and fentanyl in his system.
“It was heartbreaking to read the statistics,” Hejl said.
Hejl says her son had been in rehab three times before he returned home only to overdose in his room. “He had a really good heart but he suffered from a really bad disease,” Hejl said.
Hejl blames her son and the drug dealers. “These dealers were blowing up his phone to sell to him it’s like pizza delivery to them,” said Hejl.
She says the state has a lot of work to do.
“There’s not enough detox not enough rehabs there’s waiting lists,” said Hejl.
Ohio is working with the CDC to look closely at the fentanyl related overdoses to better understand how to fix the problem.
